Israeli father and son, Palestinians killed in West Bank

Hebron: An Israeli father and son were shot dead in an apparent ambush near Hebron Friday on a day that also saw three Palestinians die after being shot by Israeli soldiers.

An unknown assailant killed the two Israelis when he opened fire on a car near the Jewish settlement of Otniel, south of Hebron in the occupied West Bank, the army said.

Another two Israelis were wounded, hospital sources said.

“Two Israelis were murdered… When shots were fired at their vehicle near Hebron” in a “terrorist” attack, an army statement said, adding that the gunman fled the area.

It was the most serious attack on Israelis in nearly a month and sparked a manhunt, with soldiers backed by air units deploying en masse in the neighbouring Palestinian communities of Yatta and As Samou, an AFP journalist said.